Porsche 911: 2009 Model Year

Motoring Channel Staff - 24/June/2008

Stuttgart, Germany — Early this month, Porsche unveiled the 2009 model 911, it's flagship sports car.

The updated Porsche - the company being one of the world's most profitable car makers - is being touted as a 'new' model but is more a facelift of the previous 997-type 911 series.

It features slightly new front and rear fascia designs with upgraded high-visibility LED lights. 

The the suspension and frame are largely unchanged, which won't be greeted with dismay as the 997 version of the 911 has been critically acclaimed for its unique handling sensation.

The biggest changes have taken place underneath the Porsche 911's voluptuous bodywork.

The first major update that Porsche made to the  911's powertrain was to incorporate a new direct injection system for the engine.

Like Audi's FSI technology, fuel is first pressurised and then injected directly into the combustion chamber, which results in a more fierce burn and in the Porsche 911's case, more power.

Entry-level Porsche 911 Carrera models get a 15kW (20hp) increase taking peak power for the 3.6-litre 6-cylinder boxer engine to 254 kilowatts (345hp). 

That's enough rear-wheel drive power to propel the German sports car from zero to 96km/h in 4.7 seconds, which is two tenths of a second quicker than the previous model.

However, that benchmark acceleration time of 4.7 seconds is also made possible thanks to Porsche's new dual clutch gearbox which is now available with the 911 Carrera range, nicknamed the Porsche-Doppelkupplung - or PDK for short.

The 7-speed PDK is like other dual-clutch semi-automatic gearboxes from Volkswagen, Mitsubishi and Nissan in that there is virtually no delay the power delivery between gears. Hence the improved acceleration times.

Porsche's new high-torque PDK dual clutch gearbox also has a very aggressive launch control system and is one of the reasons the zero to 100km/h sprints have been reduced.

Like the entry-level 911 Carrera, the 911 Carrera S benefits from direct gasoline injection and achieves a power boost of 22kW (30hp) taking peak power 283kW (385hp). 

With almost 30kW more power than its 911 Carrera brother, the 'S' model can accelerate to 96km/h in a claimed 4.3 seconds and has a rev limiter set at 7500rpm, a full 1000rpm after peak power arrives.

With a kerb weight of just over 1.4 tonnes for the 911 Carrera coupes (the convertibles are around 1500kg) and efficient aerodynamics, top speeds of around 300km/h are possible.

Porsche has also previously stated that it wants to keep fuel consumption below 11L/100km, and as the claims stats show, it appears the German sports car company has achieved this feat.

The full statistics for the 911 Carrera and 911 Carrera S coupe models are as follows:

Porsche 911 Carrera
Power: 254kW @ 6500rpm
Torque: 390Nm @ 4400rpm
Engine: 3.6-litre, 6-cylinder boxer
0-100km/h: 4.7 seconds (PDK)
Top speed: 289km/h
Gearbox: 6-speed manual or 7-speed PDK 
Fuel consumption: 9.8L/100km (PDK)

Porsche 911 Carrera S
 Power: 283kW @ 6500rpm
Torque: 420Nm @ 4400rpm
Engine: 3.8-litre 6-cylinder boxer
0-100km/h: 4.3 seconds (PDK with Sport Chrono)
Top Speed: 302km/h
Gearbox: 6-speed manual or 7-speed PDK
Fuel consumption: 10.2L/100km (PDK)

There have also been some changes to the interior of the 2009 model year 911, including a new steering wheel and other minor tweaks to the cabin design.

The new model is on sale in Europe from October, and should be arriving in Australia towards the end of the year.

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- Rich Britons Prefer Porsche (2007)
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- Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet (2008)
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